Royals' boss reacts to Reading's 2-2 draw at the DW Stadium on the opening day of the new Championship season

Nigel Adkins refused to be downbeat having watched his side concede an injury time equaliser at Wigan on Saturday.

Royals looked to have got their Championship campaign off to the perfect start when goals from Shaun Cummings and Sean Morrison saw them cancel out Callum McManaman’s first half strike at the DW Stadium.

But James McArthur’s last gasp header rescued a 2-2 draw for Wigan which they barely deserved.

It was tough on the visitors who had dominated throughout but the manner of the performance left Adkins optimistic for the season ahead.

“I was really pleased,” said the Reading manager. “The quality of our play was great.

“We got on the ball and everybody utilised it really well.

“We played out from defence and pushed them back. We created situations for ourselves through the hard work of our players.

“We scored two excellent goals and could have scored several more.

“We hit the post twice, their keeper made some good saves and Ryan Edwards had a chance from Pavel Pogrebnyak’s pull-back in the first half.”

Adkins added: “It was a shame we didn’t get all three points but I’m going to look at the positives.

“We went away from home and left with a point. We’re on the scorecard for the new season.

“And we scored two good goals. One from Shaun Cummings which saw us play the ball through the pitch from the back and one direct from the training ground.

“So I was really pleased. The attitude of the players to start the campaign has been great.”

Having taken the lead through Morrison’s header 13 minutes from time, Reading looked to have comfortably seen off any threat from the home side.

But with just seconds remaining, they were undone by a long ball into the box which led to McArthur heading home.

“I thought our game management was good,” said Adkins.

“We were killing the clock really well and had the ball in the corner for about two or three minutes of injury time.

“But then ultimately they have just lumped the ball the length of the pitch and Sean Morrison, who had a super game for us, chased it a bit and they got the goal.”